Pneumatic seal for gyratory crushers



April 22, 1958 Original Filed Oct. 27, 1950 April 5 D. A. CHEYETTE ETL 2,83l,640

PNEUMATIC SEAL FOR GYRA'I'ORY CRUSHERS 0riginal Filed Oct. 27, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 D. A. CHEYETTE ETAL 2,831,640 PNEUMATIC SEAL FOR GYRATORY CRUSHERS April 22, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Oct. 27, 1950 P 1958 D. A. CHEYETTE ETAL 2,831,640

PNEUMATIC SEAL FOR GYRATORY CRUSHERS Original Filed Oct. 27, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 PNEUMATEC SEAL FR GYRATORY CRUSHERS David A. Cheyette and Howartl M. Zoerb, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Norrlberg Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application November 18, 1954, Serial No. 469,799

Claims. (Cl. 241-216) Our nvention relates to improvements in pneumatic seals for gyratory crushers and has for one purpose to provide an irnproved pneumatc seal for the bowl and socket hearing of the gyrated head of such a crusher.

Another purpose is to provide a circumferential pneumatc seal whch, with the contact between opposed relatively moving parts, maintains a cleansing, sealing circumferential outward flow of air between opposed parts of a gyrated head and of the support for such head.

Another purpose is to provide such a circumferential pnenmatic seal, of the type above described, with means for adjusting the air gap between the relatively moving parts.

Another purpose is to provide a pneumatic seal in the form of an upwardly, outwardly directed flow of air, extending circumferentially about the zone te be sealed.

Another purpose is to provide a circumferential pneumatic seal employing an annular air jet, the orifice of which may be adjusted.

Another pnrpose is to provide a dust sealing structure whch shall be efifective to prevent the entry of dust and whch shall be effective to automatically compensate for the wear of certan relatively movable parts.

Another purpose is to provide a pneumatic seal whch shall be efiective to prevent the entry or passage of dust to relatively moving parts, the structure of the seal forming members being efiective to create an aspiration outwardly from the area surrounding the parts to be protected.

Another purpose is to provide a seal wherein an il mist may be created about the parts to be protected.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the courseof the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawngs, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial vertical axial section;

Figure 2 is a radial section, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar section illustrating a variaton;

Fgure 4 is a side view in partial cross-section illustrating a varying form of our device;

Figure 5 is a view in cross-section on a scale enlarged over that of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation on a reduced scale and illustratng, means for supplying air to the seal illustrated in Figures 1-5.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

The present application is a continuation in part of our application, Serial Number 192,575, filed October 27, 1950, for Pneumatic Seal for Gyratory Crushers," now abandoned.

Referring to the drawings, 1 generally ndicates the circumferential frame of a gyratory crusher and 2 represents the central inner hub or hearing sleevewhch may be connected to the outer circumferential frame by any suitable, generally radial spider members 3. 4 is a cylin- States Patent O 2,831,640 Pattented Apr. 22, 195 8 drical sleeve, rotatably mounted within the fixed sleeve or hub or hearing 2. Keyed to the upper end of the sleeve 4 is any suitable beveled gear 5, in mesh with the pinion 6, on a drive shaft 7 whch, it will be understood, may be driven from any suitable source of power, not herein shown. It will be understood that, in response to the rotation of the drive shaft 7, the sleeve 4 is rotated within the hearing 2. The sleeve 4 is eccentrically apertured, as at 8, to receive the downwardly tapered crushing shaft 9. The axis of the crushing shaft is indicated at B and the axis of the rotation of the sleeve 4 is indicated at A. The two axes intersect at the point X, whereby the head 10, mounted at the upper end of the shaft 9, receives a gyratory movement about the center X.

11 is any suitable supporting structure for the head 10 and carries a hearing plate or socket 12, having an upwardly concave generally spherical hearing surface,

whch receves and conforrns to a downwardly convex hearing surface 10a on the head 10. The head includes an outwardly and downwardly extending hood or apron 14.

Mounted on the head is any suitable crushing mantle 15. Opposed to it is a bowl liner 16a, mounted on any suitable bowl 16. The bowl is adjustable on a supporting ring 17, only part of which is shown, but which is suitably supported at the upper edge of the circumferential frame member 1.

It will be understood that the crushing cavity between the opposed members 15 and 16a receives material from above, for example from the hopper or deflector 18. The material is crushed by a zone of approach of the mantle 15 to the liner 16a, whch moves successively about the crushing cavity in response to the gyration of the head 10 and the shaft 9 and by rotation of the sleeve 4.

11; is important that the opposed hearing surfaces 10a and 12 be protected from dust. We find it advantageous to maintain a continuous outward flow of air circumferentially about a lower portion of the head. It will be noted that the support 11 has a species of trough portion or open topped circumferential chamber 20. It is shown as bounded on its outer side by an outer wall portion 21. A suitable fluid may be delivered to the trough so formed from any suitable pipe 22, through the connection mem ber 23, and the duct 24. The structure is well adapted for example to rnaintaining a water seal, when water is used and the sealing member or guide 25 is secured to a lower portion of the head 10, for example by engaging lower inner edge is at all times below the level of the water in the trough 20 by reason of its extension below the top of outer wall 21. However, it is also advantageous to employ air as a sealing medium instead of water, and our previous structures can be modified from water seal use to render them adaptable for air seal use. In such case, we find it advantageous to isolate part of the trough space 20 and to employ it as a circumferential plenum chamber 20a for the supply of a sealing flow of air.

The space 2011 is shown as inwardly bounded by a lower inner partition ring 30 secured at its lower edge to the bottom of the trough 20 and by an upper outcr partition or waii 31, secured by its upper outer edge to the upper inner edge of the wall 01 flange 21. Themembers 30 and 31 may overlap slightly andthen definea relatively restricted throat or slot whch extends entirely around the plenum chamber 20a. The parts a re so" shaped and proportioned that this slot directs upwardly and outwardiy a circumferentially continuous but rest1icted flow of air which impinges against and moves out wardly across the lower outer surface of the rnember 25 at aii positions of the member 25. Thus at aii positions of the head 10, a restricted and therefore acceleratec or powerfui stream of air is flowing upwardly and outwardly across the surface 25 and is preventing the ingress of dust particies or the like.

The sealing eect is heightened by the fact that the overhanging eaves 14 of the head extend down 2. substantiai distance about and below the outlet of the seaiing flow of air. There is thus littie chance for the entrance of dust particles and the seaiing is highly effective. It shouid also be kept in mind that the air flow thus provided tends to entrain air from the constricted passage between the member 25 and the upper inner surface of the partitions 30 and 31. Thus it wiii be seen that in addition to biowing dust or dirt away frorn the member 25, the position of the air blast between partitions 30 and 31 creates suction in the passage between partition 30 and member 25 in the marmer of an aspirator. This will be ciear, for exampie, by the direction of the flow indicated by arrows in Figure 2. In practice, the dust leakage to the hearing surfaces of the opposed members and 12 is negligible and insuflicient to cause excessive or darnagng weer of the opposed hearing surfaces.

The structure of Figure 2 indicates basicaliy an application of our invention to a crusher which was originally built for or intended for use with a water seal. However, while the air seal as shown is adequate and efliciem, we illustrate in Figure 3 a design which has some advantages over the design of Figure 2 and which indicates a sealing structure initiaily intended for air operation.

In Figure 3 the head support 111 is shown as net de pending on the outer wall 21 which serves as a cireurnferential dorne for the water seal. lnstead, a plenum charnber 121 is provided by an inner outwardly and upwardly inclined circumterentiai Wall 130. An outer upwardly and inwardly extending wal1 131 substantially completes the pienum charnber provding with wal! 130 a pair of upwardly converging wal1s. We find it advantageous, however, to provide adjustrnent by having a cylindrical upper portion 13.. on the wail 131, to which a cylindrical adjusting ring 133 is adjustabiy secured by means of any suitabie siots 134 and adjusting screws or boits 135. The entire air seal structure may be readiiy appiied or removed. For exarnple, an inner securing ring 136 carries the wali 130 welded or otherwise secured to it and an outer ring 137 simiiarly carries the wail 131. The rings may be rernoved or held in place by any suitabie screws 138. If desired, gasirets 139 may be empioyed.

In Figures 4 and 5, we illustrate a variant form of our device. T he crushing mechanisrn iliustrated in Figure 4, corresponds generally to that of Figure 1. An air supply pipe 200 is provided in a marmer similar to a pipe 22 in Figure 1. An air passage 201 leads to an annular air passage 202 forrned internaiiy of a hearing support ring 203. An air passage 204 leads from the chamoer 202 to an annuiar plenurn charnber 205 which is defined by a generally vertical annular ring 206 forming the outer wal! of the pienum chamber and a downwardiy, inwardly inciined annular top pienurn chamber waii 207. 1t wili be observed that the outer ends of the upstanding wal] 206 and the inclined top wa1l 207 have upwardly, outwardiy directed opposed annular faces 208, 209 which together form the jet orifice generally indicated by the number 210. The wali member 207 may have secured to its lower near face as by the weids 211, 212, a. ring member 213 having its side wails formed to seat within a well 214 in the hearing support ring 203. A vertical outer side wail 215 of the ring 213 may serve to form an inner wal! of the p1enum chamber 205. A securing member 216 may serve to secure the top wall 207 and ring 215 in the hearing support ring 203. One or more shims 220 may be positioned in the bottom of the annuiar well 214 beneath the ring 213 to adjust the heighth of the ring 213 and wall 207 and thus to adjust the width of the annuiar je t orifice 210. A ring member 221, which may be formed of flexible materiai, for example, such as sponge rubber, may be secured to the upper inclined surface of the waii 207 as indicated generaliy at 222. The wear-absorbing ring 221 may be cemented to the member 207 by any suitable means, such for exarnple, as a satisfactory adhesive or it may be vulcanized. Whiie the ring 221 is illustrated oniy by cross-section in Figure 5, it can be seen from a view of a Ieft-hand portion of Figure 4 that the ring 221 is of continuous circular extension about the upper surface of the ring 207. As best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the skirt 25, secured to the crushing head 10, has its under or outer surface riding upon the upper surface of the flexibie ring 221.

Referring now to Figure 6, the overall crushing mechanism is illustrated generally by the numeral 250. A pipe 251 may be ernployed to conduct air to one or more of the pipes 22 and 200 illustrated in the Figures 1 and 4. A compressor 252 which may be driven by any suitabie power means 253 may be connected to the pipe 251 te supply air under pressure thereto. A pressure release mechanisrn 254 may be associated with the compressor 252 and the pipe 251. An air filter means 255 may be connected to a compressor inlet pipe 256. The air filter 255, as is well known, may have associated therewith, means for filtering the incoming air, such as mesh or fibrous materials which may be impregnated with oi1 in order to create an oi1 filament in the air to be eventualiy ejected through the oriice 210. When desired, an oiling means may be associated with the pipe 251 as is the member 254 in order to supply 0i1 to the air down-stream of the compressor. Such an oilng means is shown for example as pipe 257 tapped into the upper side of pipe 251 which feeds oil from a source (not shown) under regulation of any suitable valve into pipe 251.

It will be realized that whereas we have described and cl-aimed a practical and operative device, neverthless many ehanges may be made in size, shape, number and dispositio'n of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention. We therefore wish our description and. drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagramrnatic, rather than as limiting us to our specific showing herein.

The use and operation of our invention is as follows:

Our invention is readily applicable to changing or reconditioning water seal gyratory crushers for use as ar seal crushers. In Figures 1 and 2, the original water seal structure, inciuding the enter wal! or lip 21, is left substantiaily intact, bnt the air directing walls 30 and 31 perform the dual function of competing the plenurn eharnber 20a and of provding directng means for directing air upwardly and outwardly against and along the surface of the member 25, which gyrates with the head 10. Any snitable means for rnaintaining a supply of the flow of air through the pipe 22 may be employed and does not form part of the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a structure which is adaptable for initial application to a crnsher of the type herein shown which is not adapted or intended for water seai use. In both forms, a penum charnber is provided and a circumferential outlet for the plenum chamber positioned and adapted to direct air upwardly and outwardly against and along the lower surface of the member 25. In botbforms, the nner wal! of the plenum charnber converges with the outer surface of the member 25, and the direction of the air from the outlet slot tends to entrairi air from the space surrounded by the plenum chamber.

Whereas we find it under many conditions advantageous or preferahle to use air or its equivalent as the soie sealing fluid, circumstances at times arise where there is an advantage in additionally employing water, oil, or the like. For example, a mist of water or oil may be advantageous, in connection with compressed air or gas, not only to maintain an adequate seal, but to lay dust by introducing oil into the down-stream side of the compressor as through pipe 257.

In the form of our invention illustrated in Figures 4-6, we illustrate means for adjusting the size of the air orifice 210. The numher of shims 220 heneath the ring 213 to which the top plenum wall 207 is secured may be varied to adjust the height of the wall 207 and thus to adjust the wdth of the orfices 210.

As illustrated best in Figure 5, we supply a wear-absorbing ring 221 whch may he formed of sponge rubber upon whch rides the defiector or flange 25 which is movable with the head 10. Thus the ring 221 serves not only as a sealing mechanism for the space between the fiange 25 and the wall 207 hut is etective to cushion the flange 25 and to continue to do so even thou gh the spherical hearing or socket liner 12 of the head may have hecome worn, causing the fiange 25 to approach closer to the wall 207. The fiange 25 may he considered also as a bafie or wiper ring.

The injection of oil into the air being forced under pressure between the orifice 210 provides an oil mist or vapor efiective to prevent rust and corrosion of any moisture whch may he entrained in the air.

We claim:

1. In a gyratory crusher and pneumatic sealing means therefor, a crushng head and means for gyrating it, a support for said head, a hearing structure intermediate said head and support, a dust excluding assembly exterior to said hearing structure, said assembly including normally and relatively fixed walls defining a plenum chamber, said plenum chamber having an outwardly upwardly inclined peripheral air delivery orifice positioned adjacent an upper portion of said plenum chamber and in communication therewith, said orifice being formed and adapted to direct outwardly a generally conic envelope of air, means for admitting air under pressure to the interior of the plenum chamber, the head having an apron extending upwardly and outwardly in a path generally out wardly converging with the path of delivery of said envelope of air, and moving in a path closely adjacent the orifice opening said apron and said air delivery path meeting at a point suhstantially beyond said delivery orifice, said apron having, at all positions of the head, a suhstantial upward and outward extension beyond the delivery orifice, whereby a scouring area of substantial radial extension is at all times provided, said apron having also, at all positions of the head, a suhstantial inward and downward extension within the area defined hy said orifice and forrning with said inner plenum chamber wall an outwardly converging aspirating passage said aspirating passage being, at all positions of the head, in alignment with the point at whch said apron and said air delivery path meet.

2. In a gyratory crusher and pneumatic sealing means therefor, a crushing head and means for gyrating it, a support for said head, a hearing structure intermediate said head and support, a dust excluding assembly exterior to said hearing structure, said assembly including normally and relatively fixed walls defining a plenum chamber, the inner of said walls being generally conical and inclined upwardly and outwardly and forming with another of said plenum chamber walls, an upwardly, outwardly inclined annular air delivery slot, said air delivery slot being formed and adapted to direct outwardly a generally conic envelope of air, means for admitting ar under pressure to the interior of the plenum chamber, the head having an apron extending upwardly and outwardly in a path generally outwardly converging with the path of delivery of said envelope of air, and moving in a path closely;djceht the slot opening said apron and said air deliverypathconverging toward a point spaced outwardly from the outer wall of said plenum chamber, said ap ron having, at all positions of the head, a suhstantial inward and downward extension within the area defined by said slot.

3. The structure of claim 2 characterized hy and incl uding a;ring formedoif flexible mat'erial and secured to the upper surface of said plenum chamber inner wall, the upper surface of said ring being in contact, at all postons of said head, with the outer surface of said apron.

4. The structure of claim 2, characterized hy and including means for adjusting the wdth of said air delivery slot, said adjusting means comprising means for movahly securing said inner plenum wall to a portion of said head support and a plurality of shims adapted to he positoned between said head support and said inner chamber wall.

5. In a gyratory crusher and pneumatic sealing means therefor, a crushing head and means for gyrating it, a support for said head, a hearing structure intermedate said head and support, a dust excluding assembly exterior to said hearing structure, said assembly including normally and relatively fixed walls defining a plenum chamber, the inner of said walls being generally conical and inclined upwardly and outwardly and forming with another of said plenum chamber walls an upwardly outwardly inclined annular air delivery slot, said air delivery slot being formed and adapted to direct outwardly a generally conic envelope of air, means for admitting air under pressure to the interior of the plenum chamber, and means for supplying oil to said air prior to its admission to said plenum chamber whereby a rust preventing oil mist is created in said air envelope.

6. The method of preventing rust in and at the same time excluding dust from the hearing structure of gyratory crushers and the like of the type in which a head having a downwardly spherical hearing surface seats on an upwardly spherical hearing socket, whch comp'rises the steps of defining a circumferential exterior plenum chamber between the ahutting spherical faces of head and socket and the amhient air, supplying a mixture of air and oil under pressure to the interior of said plenum chamber, and directing outwardly and upwardly from said plenum chamber a generally conic envelope of mixed air and oil.

7. The method of preventng rust in and at the same time excluding dust from the hearing structure of gyratory crushers and the like in which a head, on a support, is gyrated on a hearing assembly locatedheneath the head, whch comprises the steps of defining a circumferential exterior plenum chamber between said hearing assembly and the amhient air, supplying a mixture of air and oil under pressure to the interior of said plenum chamber, and directing outwardly and upwardly from said plenum chamber a generally conic envelope of mixed air and oil and causing it to abut against a porton of said head, whereby said envelope is made to extend completely across any opening between head and support, and to constitute a protecting sereen between the amhient air and said hearing assembly.

8. The method of preventing rust in, and at the same time excluding dust from, the hearing structure of gyratory crushers and the like of the type in which a head having a downwardly spherical hearing surface seats on an upwardly spherical hearing socket whch comprises the steps of defining a circumferential exterior plenum chamber between the abutting spherical face of the socket and the amhient air and an interior aspirating chamber between the plenum chamber and the hearing socket, supplying a mixture of air and oil under pressure to the interior of said plenum chamber, directing out wardly and upwardly from said plenum chamber a eenjerlly cnc ei1velope of mixed air and ol inprder t0 'consttut a protectng sereen between the anbient ar and sad hearing assembly, and simultaneously i11ducing a vacuum in the inner aspirating chamber.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,559,182 Rice Oet. 27, 1925 

